Method and system for voice based media search

ABSTRACT

Voice-based input is used to operate a media device and/or to search for media content. Voice input is received by a media device via one or more audio input devices and is translated into a textual representation of the voice input. The textual representation of the voice input is used to search one or more cache mappings between input commands and one or more associated device actions and/or media content queries. One or more natural language processing techniques may be applied to the translated text and the resulting text may be transmitted as a query to a media search service. A media search service returns results comprising one or more content item listings and the results may be presented on a display to a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to techniques for usingvoice-based input to operate a media device and to search for mediacontent.

BACKGROUND

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could bepursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previouslyconceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it shouldnot be assumed that any of the approaches described in this sectionqualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in thissection.

Digital Video Recording systems (“DVRs”) and other similar media devicesenable users to consume a wide variety of media and have revolutionizedthe way users watch and record multimedia content. In general, userinterface systems found in DVRs and other media devices communicate witha display screen and display an interactive interface on a displaydevice. Users typically interact with such user interface systems usingremote controls and other physical input devices. A drawback of thesephysical input devices is that it is often cumbersome for a user toexpress commands and queries to find and interact with multimediacontent available to the user. For example, if a user desires to searchfor movies that contain the user's favorite actor, the user may berequired to manually key in, using a remote control or similar device,the actor's name and other elements of a relevant search command.

In some systems, voice input is used to operate various user devices.However, traditional voice-based input systems are generally unaware ofthe context of individual user's voice requests and/or what particularcommands each user may use to express a desired device action or searchfor multimedia content. Consequently, voice-based input systems oftenfail to accurately recognize users' voice commands resulting innon-performance of requested device actions and/or the retrieval ofmultimedia content search results that are irrelevant to users' intendedqueries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an example system in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating an example media device inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram that depicts a method for receivingand processing voice input by a media device in accordance with one ormore embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram example for processing resultsreturned from a media search service in accordance with an embodiment;and

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram that illustrates a system upon which anembodiment of the invention may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however,that the present invention may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring thepresent invention.

Several features are described hereafter that can each be usedindependently of one another or with any combination of the otherfeatures. However, any individual feature might not address any of theproblems discussed above or might only address one of the problemsdiscussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fullyaddressed by any of the features described herein. Although headings areprovided, information related to a particular heading, but not found inthe section having that heading, may also be found elsewhere in thespecification.

Example features are described according to the following outline:

-   -   1.0 General Overview    -   2.0 System Architecture    -   3.0 Example Media Device    -   4.0 Receiving Voice Input    -   5.0 Processing Voice Input        -   5.1 Speech-To-Text Translation Service        -   5.2 User Modification of Translated Voice Input        -   5.3 Device Lexicon Cache        -   5.4 Natural Language Processing Cache        -   5.5 Natural Language Processing        -   5.6 Media Content Search    -   6.0 Processing Voice Input Search Results        -   6.1 Search Result Weighting        -   6.2 Presentation and User Selection of Results        -   6.3 Collection of Audience Research and Measurement Data    -   7.0 Hardware Overview    -   8.0 Extensions and Alternatives

1.0 General Overview

In an embodiment, voice input is received by a media device via one ormore audio input devices. In an embodiment, at least a portion of thereceived voice input is transmitted to a speech-to-text service fortranslation into a textual representation of the voice input. Inresponse to receiving at least a portion of the voice input, thespeech-to-text service translates the received voice input and transmitsa textual representation of the voice input to the media device. In anembodiment, the translated textual representation of the voice input ispresented to a user and the user may modify one or more portions of thetextual representation and/or provide confirmation of the accuracy ofthe textual representation.

In an embodiment, the textual representation of the voice input is usedto search a device lexicon cache storing one or more mappings betweentextual representations of media device commands and one or more deviceactions. For example, device actions may include actions performedlocally on a media device such as changing the channel, scheduling amedia content recording, listing recorded content, etc., or the deviceactions may be requests transmitted to other services. In response todetecting a device lexicon cache entry corresponding to the textualrepresentation of the voice input, the media device may cause the one ormore actions associated with the cache entry to be performed.

In another embodiment, the device lexicon cache may store one or moremappings between voice patterns and device actions. For example, thevoice patterns may be derived from previously received user voicesamplings. In an embodiment, a voice input sampling derived fromreceived voice input is used to search a device lexicon cache storingone or more mappings between voice patterns and one or more media deviceactions. In response to detecting a device lexicon cache entrycorresponding to the voice input sampling, the media device may causethe one or more actions associated with the cache entry to be performed.In an embodiment, the mappings between voice patterns and device actionsmay be stored in conjunction with or separately from the cache entriesstoring mappings between textual representations of voice input anddevice actions.

In an embodiment, a signature is generated for the textualrepresentation of the voice input and a natural language processingcache is searched. For example, in an embodiment, a signature may be ahash value computed using the textual representation as input. Thenatural language processing cache may store one or more mappings betweentext signatures and one or more device actions and/or media searchqueries. In response to detecting a natural language processing cacheentry corresponding to the signature, the media device may perform theone or more associated actions and/or send an associated media searchquery to a media search service. In an embodiment, one or more naturallanguage processing techniques may be used to further process the textrepresenting the translated voice input. In an embodiment, the textualrepresentation of the voice input is transmitted to a natural languageprocessing service to perform the one or more natural languageprocessing techniques.

In an embodiment, the textual representation of the user voice input maybe transmitted as one or more queries to a media search service duringone or more of the voice input processing steps identified above. In anembodiment, based on the one or more transmitted queries, a media searchservice returns results comprising one or more media content itemlistings. In an embodiment, at least a portion of the one or more of thecontent item listings may be presented on a display and a user mayselect one or more of the content item listings using an input device.In an embodiment, selection of one or more of the content item listingsmay be indicated by additional voice input received from a user.

The techniques described herein generally enable a user to control amedia device using the user's voice. For example, a user may express avoice command “show my recorded shows.” The voice command may be sent toa DVR from an audio input device over a local network. In response toreceiving the voice command, the DVR may gather data corresponding tothe user's recorded shows. The data for the recorded shows may then besent from the DVR to a connected display device. The user may furtherexpress a title or listing number (e.g., “play content A”) correspondingto a listing included in the data displayed on the display device. Forexample, a user voice command “play content A” may be sent as a commandto the DVR over the local network causing “content A” to be streamed tothe media device for display to the user. Another example of voice basedcommand and control of a media device includes a DVR comprising tunersto tune to one or more broadcast television channels. A user using aremotely located media device connected to a DVR over a local networkmay voice a command to view the Electronic Program Guide (EPG). Therequest may be sent to the DVR over the local network and cause the DVRto send the EPG data to the remotely located device for display. Theuser may further desire to view a particular television channel based onthe received EPG data. For example, the user may voice a command such as“go to channel 11,” the command causing media device to tune to channel11 and the content being broadcast on that channel to be displayed on aconnected display device.

2.0 System Architecture

Although a specific computer architecture is described herein, otherembodiments of the invention are applicable to any architecture that canbe used to perform the functions described herein.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example system 100 according to an embodiment ofthe invention which includes a media device 110, voice input device 102,speech-to-text service 104, natural language processing service 106, andmedia search service 108. Each of these devices and services arepresented to clarify the functionalities described herein and may not benecessary to implement one or more embodiments. Furthermore, devices andservices not shown in FIG. 1 may also be used to perform thefunctionalities described herein.

In an embodiment, media device 110 generally represents any media devicecomprising a processor and configured to present media content. A mediadevice 110 may refer to a single device or any combination of devices(e.g., a set-top box cable receiver, an audio receiver, over the top(OTT) display devices, and a television set, etc.) that may beconfigured to present media content. Examples of a media device 110include one or more of: receivers, digital video recorders, digitalvideo players, televisions, monitors, Blu-ray players, audio contentplayers, video content players, digital picture frames, hand-held mobiledevices, computers, printers, etc. The media device 110 may presentmedia content by playing the media content (e.g., audio and/or visualmedia content), displaying the media content (e.g., still images), or byany other suitable means. One or more individual components that may beincluded in the media device 110 are described below with reference toFIG. 1B. In an embodiment, media device comprises device lexicon cache112 and natural language processing cache 114, generally representinglocal and/or remote memory storage used to store data associated withthe techniques described herein. In an embodiment, device lexicon cache112 and/or natural language processing cache 114 may be integrated intomedia device 110 or may be remotely accessible.

In an embodiment, two or more media devices 110 may be networked on alocal network, enabling interaction between the media devices. Anexample of the voice based capabilities between networked media devicesincludes searching for recorded content on a DVR from an OTT device overthe local network.

In an embodiment, voice input device 102 generally represents one ormore microphones or other voice recognition devices that can be used toreceive voice input from one or more users. In an embodiment, amicrophone may be a device separate from media device 110, integrated aspart of a media device 110, or part of another device (e.g., a remotecontrol, a phone, a tablet, a keyboard, etc.) that is communicativelycoupled with the media device 110. The remote devices may becommunicatively coupled with the media device 110 (e.g., via USB,Bluetooth, infrared, IR, wireless, etc.). In an embodiment, voice inputdevice 102 may comprise multiple microphones enabled to detect sound,identify user location, etc. In an embodiment, the media device 110 mayinclude functionality to identify media content being played (e.g., aparticular program, a position in a particular program, etc.) when audioinput is received (e.g., via a microphone) from a user. For example,media device 110 may identify particular media content being played by amedia device 110 based on a fingerprint derived from the media contentbeing played. A fingerprint derived from particular media content may,for example, be based on projecting the intensity values of one or morevideo frames onto a set of projection vectors and obtaining a set ofprojected values. A fingerprint derived from particular media contentmay be sent to a fingerprint database and the particular media contentmay be identified based on fingerprints of known media content stored inthe fingerprint database.

In an embodiment, speech-to-text service 104 generally represents anysoftware and/or hardware for translating audio data including one ormore user voice portions into a textual representation. In anembodiment, speech-to-text service 104 receives audio data representingvoice input from media device 110, translates the audio data into atextual representation, and provides the textual representation to amedia device 110, for example, through a network, communicationconnection, any local network, etc.

In an embodiment, natural language processing service 106 generallyrepresents any service that is enabled to process text using one or morenatural language processing techniques including parsing the text andcategorizing the parsed text into one or more natural languagecomponents. In an embodiment, natural language processing service 106receives textual data (e.g., from media device 110, speech-to-textservice 104, etc.), performs one or more natural language processingtechniques using the textual data as input, and provides a result astext. The results may include various transformations to the input text,for example, the filtering of certain words and/or other modificationsbased on the applied natural language processing techniques.

In an embodiment, media search service 108 generally represents aservice that receives search queries for media content and otherassociated program data. In an embodiment, program data comprisesprogram titles, electronic programming guide (EPG) information, people,tags, and other metadata. Media search service 108 may additionallyinclude one or more Internet search engines. In an embodiment, somesearch results may be cached on media device 110 from data from themedia search service 108 so that searches may be performed at the clientwhen a connection to media search service 108 is unavailable.

In an embodiment, one or more of speech-to-text service 104, naturallanguage processing service 106, and media search service 108 representremote services that media device 110 communicates with over a network(e.g., internet, intranet, world wide web, etc.). In another embodiment,media device 110 comprises one or more of the services. In anotherembodiment, one or more of the services may be combined with one or moreof the other services.

In an embodiment, the media device 110 connects to a computer networkvia a network device (e.g., a cable modem, satellite modem, telephonemodem, fiber optic modem, etc.) that may be separate from the mediadevice 110. In an example, the media device 110 is communicativelycoupled, through wireless and/or wired segments, to a network devicewhich sends and/or receives data for the media device 110.

3.0 Example Media Device

FIG. 1B illustrates an example block diagram of a media device examplein accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1B, themedia device 110 may include multiple components such as a memory system155, one or more storage devices (e.g., hard drive SSD, RAM, NVRAM,etc.) 160, a central processing unit (CPU) 165, a text/audio convertor167, a display sub-system 170, an audio/video input 175, one or moretuners (e.g., cablecard, analog tuner, digital tuner, satellite tuner,etc.) 180, a network module 190, peripherals unit 195, and/or othercomponents necessary to perform the functionality described herein.

In an embodiment, the audio/video input 175 may correspond to anycomponent that includes functionality to receive audio and/or videoinput (e.g., HDMI 176, DVI 177, Analog 178, and Microphone 179) from anexternal source. The media device 110 may include multiple audio/videoinputs 175.

In an embodiment, the tuner 180 generally represents any input componentthat can receive a content stream over a transmission signal (e.g.,through cable, satellite, terrestrial antenna, etc.). The tuner 180 mayallow one or more received frequencies while filtering out others (e.g.,by using electronic resonance, etc.). A television tuner may convert aradio frequency television transmission into audio and video signalswhich can be further processed to produce sound and/or an image(s).

In an embodiment, input and content may also be received from a networkmodule 190. A network module 190 generally represents any inputcomponent that can receive information over a network (e.g., Internet,intranet, world wide web, etc.). Examples of a network module 190include a network card, network adapter, network interface controller,network interface card, Local Area Network adapter, Ethernet networkcard, and/or any other component that can receive information over anetwork. The network module may be used to directly or indirectlyconnect with another device (e.g., remote devices associated withspeech-to-text service 104, natural language processing service 106, themedia search service 108, etc.).

In an embodiment, input may be received by the media device 110 from anycommunicatively coupled device through wired and/or wirelesscommunication segments. Input received by the media device 110 may bestored to the memory system 155 or one or more storage devices 160. Thememory system 155 may include one or more different types of physicalmemory to store data. For example, one or more memory buffers (e.g., anHD frame buffer) in the memory system 155 may include storage capacityto load one or more uncompressed high definition (HD) video frames forediting and/or fingerprinting. The memory system 155 may also storeframes in a compressed format (e.g., MPEG2, MPEG4, or any other suitableformat), where the frames are then uncompressed into the frame bufferfor modification, replacement, and/or display. The memory system 155 mayinclude FLASH memory, DRAM memory, EEPROM, traditional rotating diskdrives, solid state drives (SSD), etc. The one or more storage devices160 generally represent secondary or alternative embodiment storageaccessible by the media device 110. The one or more storage devices 160may include one or more different types of physical memory (e.g., diskdrives, SSDs, etc.) to store various data. For example, data stored toone or more storage devices 160 may include audio data, video data,program and/or recording scheduling information, user preferences, etc.

In an embodiment, central processing unit 165 may include functionalityto perform the functions described herein using any input received bythe media device 110. For example, the central processing unit 165 maybe configured to generate one or more services based on received voiceinput and to perform one or more steps corresponding to the commandassociated with received voice input. The central processing unit 165may be used for processing communication with any of the input and/oroutput devices associated with the media device 110.

In an embodiment, the display sub-system 170 generally represents anysoftware and/or device that includes functionality to output (e.g.,Video Out to Display 171) and/or actually display one or more images.Examples of display devices include a kiosk, a hand held device, acomputer screen, a monitor, a television, etc. The display devices mayuse different types of screens such as liquid crystal display, cathoderay tube, a projector, a plasma screen, an LED screen, etc. The outputfrom the media device 110 may be specially formatted for the type ofdisplay device being used, the size of the display device, resolution(e.g., 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, or other suitable resolution), etc.

In an embodiment, the peripherals unit 195 generally represents inputand/or output for any peripherals that are communicatively coupled withthe media device 110 (e.g., via USB, External Serial Advanced TechnologyAttachment (eSATA), Parallel ATA, Serial ATA, Bluetooth, infrared,etc.). Examples of peripherals include remote control devices, USBdrives, a keyboard, a mouse, a camera, a microphone, and other speechrecognition devices.

4.0 Receiving Voice Input

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram for receiving and processing voiceinput in accordance with one or more embodiments. One or more of thesteps described below may be omitted, repeated, and/or performed in adifferent order. Accordingly, the specific arrangement of steps shown inFIG. 2 should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment, in step 202 a media device 110 receives voice inputfrom voice input device 102. As described above, voice input device 102may be one or more microphones, or any other device capable ofconverting sound into an input signal. Voice input device 102 may be aseparate device that is coupled to media device 110, integrated as partof media device 110, or connected to any other device that iscommunicatively coupled to media device 110.

In an embodiment, a media device 110 may receive an indication that auser is providing voice input. For example, a user may indicate thatvoice input is to be given by saying a particular keyword (e.g., byspeaking the word “command” followed by additional voice input), bypressing a button or other input control associated with an inputdevice, by making a motion or gesture detectable by an input device, orby any other input signal. In response to receiving an indication from auser that voice input is to be given, a media device 110 may beginsampling audio detected by a voice input device 102 in order to detectvoice input from a user.

In another embodiment, a media device 110 (or any other associated inputdevice) may be configured to periodically sample detectable voice inputwithout prompting by the user. For example, a media device 110 mayreceive voice input by continuously processing all detectable audioinput from one or more audio input devices and detecting the occurrenceof a voice pattern in the audio input. For example, a media device 110may continuously process the detectable audio input by comparing thereceived audio input against one or more voice samples of known users.In an embodiment, known users may be registered with the media device110, by entering a user voice registration process and saying a phraseor set words that the media device 110 sample and stores.

In one embodiment, voice input device 102 may be enabled to becontinuously active and respond to a known wake-up command for furtherprocessing. For example, voice input device 102 may transduce detectablesound to digital data for processing by media device 110 or voice inputdevice 102. In response to detecting a wake-up command, media device 110may process subsequently received voice input as voice commands. Themedia device 110 may further be enabled to identify multipleback-to-back wake-up commands. The first wake-up command would initiateprocessing of subsequent voice input. If the subsequent voice input isthe same as the wake-up command, receipt of the second wake-up commandmay cause the media device to perform a predetermined task or functionsuch as displaying EPG information. Similarly, three back-to-backwake-up commands may indicate yet another predetermined task, and soforth.

In an embodiment, a media device 110 may receive different portions ofvoice input from different users. For example, media device 110 mayreceive voice input from a first user corresponding to the text command“record”, “search”, etc. Additional voice input may be received from oneor more second users corresponding to various titles of programs/showsthat are to be associated with the “record”, “search”, etc., commandreceived from the first user.

In an embodiment, voice input may be received using a microphone arraycomprising two or more microphones that are spatially distributed andoperating in tandem. Each microphone in the array may be enabled toperiodically and/or continuously sample detectable voice input. Thesampled information may further include timestamp information indicatingwhen the voice input is received by a microphone. In an embodiment, thevoice input received by two or more of the microphones in a microphonearray may be compared based on the recorded timestamp information. Basedon a comparison of the timestamp information, the voice input that isreceived from a particular microphone and that is associated with theearliest timestamp information may be transmitted to a media device 110.In an embodiment, a microphone array may be used to identify thelocation of one or more users in an area surrounding the microphonearray based on the timestamp information associated with voice inputreceived by each microphone in an array. For example, if multiplemicrophones in an array detect particular voice input from a user, anapproximate location of the user may be derived by using the timestampinformation recorded by each of the microphones for the particular voiceinput and calculating an approximate distance of the user from eachmicrophone.

In another embodiment, a microphone array may be configured to use beamforming in order to identify particular users that provide voice input.In this context, beam forming refers to audio processing techniques thatenable a media device to determine an approximate spatial location of auser providing voice or other audio input. In an embodiment, one or moreusers initially may be identified based on voice input received from theusers. For example, a user may initially be identified based on the userspeaking a personalized wake-up command, based on a stored voice profileof the user, or other user identification techniques. Each of theidentified users also may be associated with an approximate initialspatial location based on the voice input received from the user andusing a beam forming technique. Subsequently to the initialidentification of the users, a particular user may provide additionalvoice input received at the microphone array and a spatial location ofthe particular user may be determined using a beam forming technique.For example, the particular user may speak a wake-up command that doesnot uniquely identify the particular user. In an embodiment, theidentity of the particular user providing the subsequent voice input maybe determined by identifying the closest match between the approximatespatial location of the particular user providing the subsequent voiceinput and the approximate initial user locations.

5.0 Processing Voice Input

In an embodiment, in response to media device 110 receiving one or morevoice input samples, one or more steps are executed in order to processthe received voice input.

In an embodiment, media device 110 may perform one or more steps tofilter out or reduce ambient noise present while voice input is beingreceived. For example, ambient noise may be present from other objectsin the environment of the user, including audio output from a mediadevice 110. In one embodiment, in response to a user indicating thatvoice input is to be given, media device 110 may mute or reduce anyaudio output presently being generated by the media device.

In another embodiment, one or more portions of audio input received by avoice input device 102 may be filtered based on temporal audio markersembedded in audio output being generated by media device 110. Forexample, the temporal audio markers may be audio signals generated inone or more frequency ranges that are outside of the frequency rangegenerally audible to humans. In an embodiment, audio data correspondingto audio output generated by media device 110, including any temporalaudio markers, may be stored in a memory buffer. In an embodiment, mediadevice 110 may correlate the audio data stored in the memory buffer withreceived audio input from a voice input device 102 using the temporalaudio markers to locate matching audio segments. Based on the correlatedaudio segments, media device 110 may perform one or more processingsteps to filter out or cancel the audio generated by media device 110from the audio input data received by voice input device 102. Forexample, the filtering of audio generated by media device 110 may beachieved by identifying the last received audio input that correlateswith audio data in the buffer. The audio input may be correlated withina difference threshold margin of similarity. Once the correlated audiodata is located in the buffer, portions of the audio data in the buffermay be used to subtract out portions of the received audio input,thereby canceling the audio output by media device 110 from the receivedaudio input.

In an embodiment, one or more users may be identified based on receivedvoice input. For example, received voice input may be compared to datarepresenting user voices associated with known users in order toidentify a particular user. The data representing user voices may begenerated based on voice training exercises performed by users, bystoring previously received voice input data, or storing any otherrepresentation of a user's voice. Users may be identified during anactive or passive mode. For example, users may be identified when avoice input command is received indicating the user is attempting to berecognized, or users may be identified automatically without anyspecific voice input command.

Although voice identification is used as an example, other means foridentifying users may also be used. For example, user names may beentered via an input device (e.g., keyboard, mouse, remote, joystick,etc.). One or more input devices may include an optical sensorconfigured for reading user fingerprints. The user may be identifiedbased on a fingerprint by the remote control itself or by a media devicecommunicatively coupled to the remote control. In an embodiment, theuser may be identified based on a specific button or combination ofbuttons selected by the user (e.g., a user code), a particulardrawing/pattern entered by the user, etc. In an embodiment, a user maybe identified by visual recognition of the user by a camera.

In one embodiment, a media device 110 may store user profiles and a usermay be associated with a user profile based on the voice input. Forexample, the association of a user to a profile stored for the user maybe based on the characteristics of phonemes, chronemes, and associatedminimal pairs detected in the voice input. In another embodiment,associating a user with a profile is based on identifying a name or anidentifier contained in the voice input. For example, to invoke aprofile of a particular user, the user may speak the user's name orother identifier. In an embodiment, a user may have multiple profilesand the user may select a particular profile by speaking a uniqueidentifier for the particular profile.

In an embodiment, each of a user's profiles may be customized forparticular uses. For example, a user may create a sports focused profilethat interacts particularly with sports related data on a media device110. As an example, a user may request a listing of baseball games whichare to be broadcast in the next three weeks and locate the informationbased on the user's sport focused profile. As another example, a usermay have a movie focused profile that is used to search for and interactwith movies being broadcasted. In an embodiment, user profiles may beconfigured via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) menu which may benavigated by voice, a remote control, or using a computer connected tothe media device 110.

In another embodiment, a user may be identified and validated as aspecific type of user based on the voice input or other identifyingmechanism. Various user types and user permissions may be set for one ormore users by a user with administrative privileges on media device 110.After a user is identified, parental controls for the identified usermay be automatically enabled with the parental controls restrictingcertain media content associated with parental control tags or otherparameters. If multiple users are identified, the most restrictive setof parental controls may be enabled. In one embodiment, the parentalcontrols may change automatically if a new user is identified. In anembodiment, if no new user is identified for a certain amount of time,the parental control restrictions may be disabled automatically.

5.1 Speech-to-Text Translation Service

In an embodiment, voice input received by a media device 110 istransmitted to a speech-to-text service 104 in Step 204. In anembodiment, a speech-to-text service 104 translates voice input datainto a textual representation of the voice input data. For example, aspeech-to-text translation service may receive audio data that includesaudio of a user speaking the words “tune to channel ten,” or “search forhorror movies.” In response to receiving the audio data, aspeech-to-text translation service may translate the received audio andreturn text data that includes the text “tune to channel ten” or “searchfor horror movies,” the text data corresponding to the words spoken bythe user and captured in the audio data. A speech-to-text conversionservice may be a remote service accessible to a media device 110 over anetwork, or may be part of the media device 110, for example, usingtext/audio convertor 167.

In an embodiment, the translation of voice input into a textualrepresentation by speech-to-text service 104 may be based on one or moreuser profiles. For example, a user may train a speech profile byproviding one or more voice samples that are used to analyze voice inputreceived from that user. The voice samples may include the user speakingprepared training text containing known words or phrases. A trainedspeech profile may improve the accuracy of a speech-to-text translationservice for a particular user. User speech profiles may be stored onmedia device 110 or by speech-to-text service 104.

In an embodiment, the textual representation of voice input receivedfrom speech-to-text service 104 may formatted as plain text, formattedto indicate a combination of one or more of phonemes, chronemes andminimal pairs associated with the voice input, or any otherrepresentation format suitable for further textual analysis.

5.2 User Modification of Translated Voice Input

In an embodiment, a user may make one or more modifications to a textualrepresentation of voice input received by media device 110 from aspeech-to-text service 104 in Step 206. For example, one or moreportions of the textual representation returned by a speech-to-textservice 104 may not precisely correspond to the words that a userintended to speak. The one or more inaccurate words may result from auser not speaking clearly enough, not speaking loudly enough to bereceived clearly by a microphone, speaking a word that is a homophone,etc. In an embodiment, the textual representation of the user's voiceinput returned by a speech-to-text service 104 may be displayed on auser interface screen on one or more display devices, including atelevision and/or one or more remote devices, in order to provide a useran opportunity to modify or confirm the accuracy of the textualrepresentation. In an embodiment, media device 110 may analyze thetextual representation and indicate to the user unknown words based on alocal dictionary. For example, one or more unknown words or phrases maybe highlighted or otherwise indicated on the display and the user mayoptionally be presented with suggested alternative words or phrases. Inan embodiment, the suggested alternative words or phrases may be derivedfrom a media search service based on matching the words which have notbeen requested for replacement.

In an embodiment, a user presented with a textual representation ofreceived voice input may modify one or more portions of the text. Forexample, the user may modify portions of the textual representation byusing a remote control, keyboard, or other input device to change thespelling, ordering, or any other characteristics of the displayed text.In another embodiment, a user may indicate the desire to re-providevoice input for one or more portions of the displayed textualrepresentation. For example, a user may select a portion of thedisplayed text and indicate that additional voice input is to beprovided and re-speak the selected text portion. In response toreceiving the additional voice input, the media device 110 may send theadditional voice input to speech-to-text service 104 and replace theselected portion of the originally displayed textual representation withthe textual representation received for the additional voice input.

After a user has made any desired modifications to the textualrepresentation of the voice input, the user may confirm the displayedtext by using a remote control, with additional voice input, or anyother input commands. In another embodiment, media device 110 may acceptthe displayed text if no input is received from a user after a specifiedperiod of time.

5.3 Device Lexicon Cache

In an embodiment, the textual representation of voice input receivedfrom a user is compared against a set of reserved input text strings orsampled voice data stored in a device lexicon cache 112 in Step 208. Adevice lexicon cache is a repository of sampled voice data and/or wordsand word phrases that are mapped to one or more device actions, mediasearch queries, or other commands related to applications running on amedia device 110. For example, entries in a device lexicon cache 112 mayinclude frequently used commands and phrases including “pause,” “liveTV,” “volume up,” “play my favorite show,” etc. In an embodiment, if alexicon cache 112 includes a cache entry corresponding to the textualrepresentation of voice input received from a user, then the action ormedia search query stored in association with the cache entry may beprocessed automatically by media device 110. In another embodiment, anaction associated with a cache entry may be presented for userconfirmation prior to performing the action to ensure that the userintended to execute the identified action.

In an embodiment, a device lexicon cache 112 may be associated with aparticular user or set of users. For example, based on theidentification of a particular user, a particular device lexicon cacheor set of cache entries in a device lexicon cache associated with theidentified user may be searched in response to receiving voice input.The association of users with a device lexicon cache enables a cache tobe personalized to include cache entries associated with a particularuser. For example, a user may have a favorite television show and maydesire a mapping in the device lexicon cache 112 so that in response tothe user speaking the command “play my favorite show,” the media devicecauses the most recent recording of the favorite television show to beplayed. In an embodiment, device lexicon cache entries may be manuallyadded and modified by a user in order to express personalized voiceinput commands. In another embodiment, one or more device lexicon cacheentries may be created based on monitoring usage of a media device andautomatically adding frequently used voice input/device actionassociations.

In an embodiment, a device lexicon cache 112 may be shared betweendifferent devices and/or different device users. For example, a numberof customized device lexicon cache entries may be created in associationwith a first user that a second user desires to use, or that the firstuser desires to use on a separate media device. In an embodiment, afirst user may export the contents of the first user's device lexiconcache for use by other users and/or by the first user on other mediadevices. For example, a second user may import the first user's devicelexicon cache for use on a separate device and have access to the samecustomized voice input/action combinations available to the first user.An imported device lexicon cache may either supplement an existingdevice lexicon cache or replace an existing device lexicon cacheentirely. In another embodiment, user-specific device lexicon caches maybe shared between different users on the same media device.

In an embodiment, a device lexicon cache may be used to implementparental controls or other filters by associating restrictions withparticular device lexicon cache entries. For example, the parentalcontrols may apply to any type of media content item, including contentitems from particular channels, based on content item titles, genres,etc. In an embodiment, one or more of the device lexicon cache entriesmay be indicated as associated with restricted media content based onone or more user preferences. In an embodiment, in response to a voiceinput command corresponding to a device lexicon cache entry that isassociated with one or more parental controls, one or more actionsand/or search results returned by the voice input command may be taggedwith an indication that the content is blocked. In response to detectinga tag or other indication that the content is blocked by parentalcontrols, a media device 110 may prevent playback of the content unlessa password is provided. In an embodiment, a password may be supplied bya number or combination of input mechanisms including a remote control,additional voice input, etc.

5.4 Natural Language Processing Cache

In an embodiment, the textual representation of voice input returned bya speech-to-text translation service 104 may be used to search a naturallanguage processing cache 114 in Step 210. A natural language processingcache 114 may be used in conjunction with a natural language processingservice 106 that provides one or more natural language processingtechniques. In an embodiment, natural language processing techniques maybe applied to a textual representation of user voice input in order toproduce a modified textual representation that may cause a media searchservice 108 to return more relevant results. For example, a user mayspecify voice input corresponding to the word phrase “get me the moviejaws” in order to search for a movie titled “Jaws.” Natural languageprocessing techniques may be used to recognize in the context of arequest for media content that the words “get,” “me,” “the,” and “movie”are extraneous in the example user's command for the purposes of a mediasearch query and may translate the user's command into a modifiedtextual representation including only the word “jaws.”

A natural language processing cache 114 may be used to store mappingsbetween word phrases and the text result of natural language processingon the word phrases in order to bypass the natural language processingof frequently used voice input commands. In response to determining thata cache entry exists in a natural language processing cache 114corresponding to the textual representation of the voice input, thestored natural language processing text result may be sent to a mediasearch service 108.

In an embodiment, a signature is generated for each word phrase that isto be stored in a natural language processing cache 114. For example, asignature may result from applying a hash algorithm to a text entry tobe stored in the natural language processing cache. In an embodiment,media device 110 may similarly generate a signature for the textualrepresentation of received voice input and use the signature todetermine whether a cache entry exists in the natural languageprocessing cache for the received voice input.

In an embodiment, a natural language processing cache 114 includes aprobability or weighting value assigned to one or more of the cacheentries. For example, a probability or weighting value for each cacheentry may be based on one or more factors including popular keywords,popularity of associated content items, user ratings of associatedcontent items, or based on the user selecting the presented searcheditems, etc. In an embodiment, a media device 110 may display one or moreportions of natural language processing cache entries to a user based onthe probabilities or weights assigned to one or more of natural languageprocessing cache entries. In response to the displayed cache entriesportions, a user may select a particular cache entry portion that mostlycorresponds to the media query the user intended to request.

5.5 Natural Language Processing

In an embodiment, the textual representation of voice input received bya media device 110 may be processed using one or more natural languageprocessing techniques in Step 212. In general, using natural languageprocessing techniques to process the textual representation of voiceinput involves parsing the textual representations into word or wordphrase tokens and categorizing the parsed tokens into one or morenatural language component categories. For example, in an embodiment,natural language processing may include categorizing the text into oneor more natural language components including noun and noun phrases,verb and verb phrases, pronouns, prepositions, etc. In an embodiment,based on the parsed and categorized representation of the textualrepresentation of voice input, particular words or word phrases may befiltered out in order to formulate a more focused media content searchquery.

In an embodiment, the textual representation of the voice input istransmitted to a natural language processing service 106. Naturallanguage processing service 106 processes the textual representationusing one or more of the natural language processing techniquesdescribed above and returns a version of the textual representation thatmay include one or more modifications. In an embodiment, the modifiedtextual representation and any other metadata associated with thenatural language processing process may be stored in natural languageprocessing cache 114 in association with the input textualrepresentation.

5.6 Media Content Search

In an embodiment, a media device 110 transmits a search query to a mediasearch service 108 based on the textual representation of the voiceinput in Step 214. A search query transmitted to a media search service108 by a media device 110 may include one or more modifications to thetextual representation based on one or more of the processing stepsdescribed above. For example, a media device 110 may generate a searchquery that is transmitted to search module 415 based on one or more of:the textual representation of voice input received from a speech-to-textservice 104, the textual representation of voice input after usermodification, cache entries located in the device lexicon cache 112and/or natural language processing cache 114, and the textualrepresentation after natural language processing. In an embodiment,search queries generated by media device 110 may be used to search formedia content item results and associated information including, but notlimited to, media content program titles, media content schedulinginformation, media device application content, or tags associated withmedia content.

In an embodiment, a media search service 108 may transmit search resultsto media device 110 for each submitted query, or a media search service108 may aggregate results from multiple queries based on the same voiceinput and transmit search results based on a union of the search resultsgenerated for each of multiple queries.

6.0 Processing Media Content Search Results

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram for processing search results receivedfrom a media search service 108. One or more of the steps describedbelow may be omitted, repeated, and/or performed in a different order.Accordingly, the specific arrangement of steps shown in FIG. 3 shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment, the search results are received by a media device 110from a media search service 108 in Step 302. Search results may includeone or more content item listings and any other additional dataassociated with media content represented by the content item listings.For example, the search results may include information associated withone or more content item listings including title information, synopsis,scheduling information, actor or actress names, etc.

6.1 Search Result Weighting

In an embodiment, one or more search result weighting and/or filteringtechniques may be applied to results generated by media search service108 in Step 304. The listing of content items included in the resultsgenerated by media search service 108 based only upon alphabeticalordering may result in a search result listing where relevant searchresults appear lower on the list of possible search results. Whensearching for a result in a large data set, providing sorting based uponrelevancy of the possible results may make the search more efficient. Inan embodiment, search result weighting and filtering may be based on oneor more factors including usage patterns, global statistics, filterwords received in the input, etc.

In an embodiment, the weighting of media content item listings in a setof search results may be based on global and/or user-dependentinformation. For example, popular shows may be displayed higher in theresult list, wherein the popularity is based on the past viewing habitsof the user initiating the search and/or a plurality of users across anumber of media devices. For example, media search service 108 mayaccess global usage information and apply a weighting to one or morecontent item listings based on the viewing/recording patterns of aplurality of users before sending the results back to media device 110.

In an embodiment, one or more filters may be applied to search resultsreceived from a media search service 108. In an embodiment, filters maybe based on one or more words identified in the textual representationof the voice input received from a user. For example, filter words maybe associated with various media content categories including, forexample, movies, television shows, sports, cartoons, and news. Forexample, a media device 110 may receive a voice input that is translatedinto the textual representation: “get me all movies currently playing.”In the example, the word “movies” may be detected as a filter word basedon a stored list of filter words. In response to identifying the one ormore filter words, media device 110 may filter out search results thatare not in the identified filter category or display search resultlistings that are in the filter category higher in the result list. Inan embodiment, the identification of filter words may occur during thenatural language processing of the translated text representing thevoice input by natural language processing service 106. In anotherembodiment, filter words may be identified by one or more media device110, speech-to-text service 104, or media search service 108, and usedto filter the returned search results.

In an embodiment, a media device 110 may apply one or more filters tosearch results based on one or more stored user preferences. Forexample, media device 110 may apply one or more stored parental controlsto filter search results returned by media search service 108. In anembodiment, parental control filtering may be based on informationassociated with a content item listing including the title of thecontent, rating of the content, tags, or any other informationassociated with the result listings. For example, parental controls maybe set to filter search results corresponding to movies that have an “R”film-rating. In an embodiment, parental controls may be specific to theuser providing the voice input. For example, one or more users may beidentified based on received voice input and media device 110 may applyone or more parental control settings associated with the identifiedusers.

6.2 User Selection of Media Content Search Results

In an embodiment, after media device 110 applies any filters, weighting,or other modifications to the list of content item results received frommedia search service 108, the content items results may be displayed toa user in Step 306. For example, the results may be displayed to a userby display sub-system 170 to one or more of the display devices,including the display on a television or on a display associated withone or more remote devices.

In an embodiment, a user may select one or more particular content itemlisting from a set of results using any available input device in Step308. For example, a user may scroll through a list of content itemresults and select one or more content item listings using a remotecontrol. In another embodiment, a user may make a selection on a remotedevice that transmits the user's selection to media device 110. In anembodiment, in response to a user's selection of a particular contentitem listing, the user may be presented with one or more selectableactions associated with the selected content item listing, includingactions to view the associated media content, schedule a recording,search for related content, or other types of actions.

In another embodiment, a user may select a content item listingpresented as part of the set of search results using voice input. Forexample, in response to media device 110 receiving voice input while oneor more results are currently displayed, media device 110 may processthe received voice input using one or more of the techniques describedabove.

6.3 Collection of Audience Research and Measurement Data

In an embodiment, in response to a user selection of one or moreparticular content item listings from a set of search results returnedby a media search service 108, information associated with the userselection is stored and/or transmitted as part of audience research andmeasurement data in Step 310. In an embodiment, audience research andmeasurement data includes information associated with user actionsperformed on a media device 110 and the data may be used to analyze howusers interact with media devices and media content. For example,audience research and measurement data may include various dataassociated with media devices and multimedia content such as, forexample, when particular programs are watched, a number of media deviceusers that watch a particular program, what portions of a particularprogram are watched, etc.

In an embodiment, data associated with a user's selection of one or moreparticular content items may be transmitted by a media device 110 to aserver collecting audience research and measurement data. The associateddata may be transmitted immediately in response to the user's selectionof a particular result listing or, alternatively, the data may be storedlocally and periodically transmitted to a collection server. Theassociated data may include any information relating to the user'sselection including one or more identifiers of the selected contentitems selected, one or more search queries that generated selectedcontent items, a user action performed in response to selection of thecontent items, etc. The collected data may be used, for example, as partof the weighting information used to order search results returned by amedia search service 108 in Step 304. For example, audience research andmeasurement data indicating that a particular program is frequentlyselected and watched by other users may result in the particular programbeing shown higher in a content item search listing.

7.0 Hardware Overview

According to one embodiment, the techniques described herein areimplemented by one or more special-purpose computing devices. Thespecial-purpose computing devices may be hard-wired to perform thetechniques, or may include digital electronic devices such as one ormore application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs) that are persistently programmed toperform the techniques, or may include one or more general purposehardware processors programmed to perform the techniques pursuant toprogram instructions in firmware, memory, other storage, or acombination. Such special-purpose computing devices may also combinecustom hard-wired logic, ASICs, or FPGAs with custom programming toaccomplish the techniques. The special-purpose computing devices may bedesktop computer systems, portable computer systems, handheld devices,networking devices or any other device that incorporates hard-wiredand/or program logic to implement the techniques.

For example, FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates a computersystem 400 upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented.Computer system 400 includes a bus 402 or other communication mechanismfor communicating information, and a hardware processor 404 coupled withbus 402 for processing information. Hardware processor 404 may be, forexample, a general purpose microprocessor.

Computer system 400 also includes a main memory 406, such as a randomaccess memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to bus 402for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor404. Main memory 406 also may be used for storing temporary variables orother intermediate information during execution of instructions to beexecuted by processor 404. Such instructions, when stored innon-transitory storage media accessible to processor 404, rendercomputer system 400 into a special-purpose machine that is customized toperform the operations specified in the instructions.

Computer system 400 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 408 orother static storage device coupled to bus 402 for storing staticinformation and instructions for processor 404. A storage device 410,such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus402 for storing information and instructions.

Computer system 400 may be coupled via bus 402 to a display 412, such asa flat panel display, for displaying information to a computer user. Aninput device 414, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled tobus 402 for communicating information and command selections toprocessor 404. Another type of user input device is cursor control 416,such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicatingdirection information and command selections to processor 404 and forcontrolling cursor movement on display 412. This input device typicallyhas two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and asecond axis (e.g., y), that allows the device to specify positions in aplane.

Computer system 400 may implement the techniques described herein usingcustomized hard-wired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmware and/orprogram logic which in combination with the computer system causes orprograms computer system 400 to be a special-purpose machine. Accordingto one embodiment, the techniques herein are performed by computersystem 400 in response to processor 404 executing one or more sequencesof one or more instructions contained in main memory 406. Suchinstructions may be read into main memory 406 from another storagemedium, such as storage device 410. Execution of the sequences ofinstructions contained in main memory 406 causes processor 404 toperform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments,hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination withsoftware instructions.

The term “storage media” as used herein refers to any non-transitorymedia that store data and/or instructions that cause a machine tooperate in a specific fashion. Such storage media may comprisenon-volatile media and/or volatile media. Non-volatile media includes,for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 410.Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 406. Commonforms of storage media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, solid state drive, magnetic tape, or any other magneticdata storage medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical data storage medium,any physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, aFLASH-EPROM, NVRAM, any other memory chip or cartridge.

Storage media is distinct from but may be used in conjunction withtransmission media. Transmission media participates in transferringinformation between storage media. For example, transmission mediaincludes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including thewires that comprise bus 402. Transmission media can also take the formof acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-waveand infra-red data communications.

Various forms of media may be involved in carrying one or more sequencesof one or more instructions to processor 404 for execution. For example,the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk or solidstate drive of a remote computer. The remote computer can load theinstructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over atelephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 400 canreceive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitterto convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector canreceive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriatecircuitry can place the data on bus 402. Bus 402 carries the data tomain memory 406, from which processor 404 retrieves and executes theinstructions. The instructions received by main memory 406 mayoptionally be stored on storage device 410 either before or afterexecution by processor 404.

Computer system 400 also includes a communication interface 418 coupledto bus 402. Communication interface 418 provides a two-way datacommunication coupling to a network link 420 that is connected to alocal network 422. For example, communication interface 418 may be anintegrated services digital network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellitemodem, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to acorresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communicationinterface 418 may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a datacommunication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links may also beimplemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 418sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals thatcarry digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 420 typically provides data communication through one ormore networks to other data devices. For example, network link 420 mayprovide a connection through local network 422 to a host computer 424 orto data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 426.ISP 426 in turn provides data communication services through the worldwide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the“Internet” 428. Local network 422 and Internet 428 both use electrical,electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. Thesignals through the various networks and the signals on network link 420and through communication interface 418, which carry the digital data toand from computer system 400, are example forms of transmission media.

Computer system 400 can send messages and receive data, includingprogram code, through the network(s), network link 420 and communicationinterface 418. In the Internet example, a server 430 might transmit arequested code for an application program through Internet 428, ISP 426,local network 422 and communication interface 418.

The received code may be executed by processor 404 as it is received,and/or stored in storage device 410, or other non-volatile storage forlater execution.

8.0 Extensions and Alternatives

Embodiments of the invention have been described with reference tonumerous specific details that may vary from implementation toimplementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicator of what is theinvention, and is intended by the applicants to be the invention, is theset of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form inwhich such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. Anydefinitions expressly set forth herein for terms contained in suchclaims shall govern the meaning of such terms as used in the claims.Hence, no limitation, element, property, feature, advantage or attributethat is not expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of suchclaim in any way. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Anycombination of the features, functionalities, components, and exampleembodiments described herein may be implemented.

1.-27. (canceled)
 28. A method comprising: storing personalized commandword data; receiving an audio signal; generating non-textual datarepresenting the received audio signal; processing non-textual datagenerated based on the audio signal, wherein the processing of the audiosignal comprises comparing the non-textual data with the personalizedcommand word data; and based on the processing: generating a textualrepresentation of the received audio signal, wherein the textualrepresentation is generated based on a speech-to-text transformation ofthe audio signal; determining whether the textual representationcorresponds to an electronic device action; and in response todetermining that the textual representation corresponds to an electronicdevice action, executing a command of the electronic device action thatcorresponds to the textual representation.
 29. The method of claim 28,wherein comparing the non-textual data with the personalized commandword data further comprises: receiving a voice input; generating a voiceprofile based on the received voice input; determining personalizedcommand word data based on the voice profile; and comparing thenon-textual data with the determined personalized command word data. 30.The method of claim 29, wherein the voice input received is based on auser speaking into a microphone of the electronic device.
 31. The methodof claim 28, further comprising determining a spatial location of a userbased on the audio signal received.
 32. The method of claim 31, whereinthe spatial location is determined by applying a beam forming technique.33. The method of claim 31, further comprising, identifying a user basedon a closest match between the determined spatial location and a voiceinput received subsequent to receiving the audio signal.
 34. The methodof claim 28, further comprising filtering out ambient noise while audiosignal is being received.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein ambientnoise is generated by an audio output of the electronic device.
 36. Themethod of claim 28, further comprising receiving a second audio signalsubsequent to receiving the audio signal.
 37. The method of claim 36,further comprising associating back-to-back receipt of the audio signaland the second audio signal with multiple electronic device actions. 38.The method of claim 36, wherein the audio signal is received from afirst user and the second audio signal is received from a second user.39. The method of claim 36, wherein the audio signal and the secondaudio signal is received from a same user.
 40. A system comprising:control circuitry configured to: store personalized command word data;receive an audio signal; generate non-textual data representing thereceived audio signal; process non-textual data generated based on theaudio signal, wherein the processing of the audio signal comprisescomparing the non-textual data with the personalized command word data;and based on the processing: generate a textual representation of thereceived audio signal, wherein the textual representation is generatedbased on a speech-to-text transformation of the audio signal; determinewhether the textual representation corresponds to an electronic deviceaction; and in response to determining that the textual representationcorresponds to an electronic device action, execute a command of theelectronic device action that corresponds to the textual representation.41. The system of claim 40, wherein comparing the non-textual data withthe personalized command word data further comprises, the controlcircuitry configured to: receive a voice input; generate a voice profilebased on the received voice input; determine personalized command worddata based on the voice profile; and compare the non-textual data withthe determined personalized command word data.
 42. The system of claim41, wherein the voice input received is based on a user speaking into amicrophone of the electronic device.
 43. The system of claim 40, furthercomprising, the control circuitry configured to determine a spatiallocation of a user based on the audio signal received.
 44. The system ofclaim 43, further comprising, the control circuitry configured toidentify a user based on a closest match between the determined spatiallocation and a voice input received subsequent to receiving the audiosignal.
 45. The system of claim 40, further comprising, the controlcircuitry configured to filter out ambient noise while audio signal isbeing received.
 46. The system of claim 40, further comprising, thecontrol circuitry configured to receive a second audio signal subsequentto receiving the audio signal.
 47. The system of claim 46, furthercomprising, the control circuitry configured to associate back-to-backreceipt of the audio signal and the second audio signal with multipleelectronic device actions.